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None of the plastics is without its disadvantages: most are easily scratched —although some chemical firms are soon to market a nonscratchable film designed to protect plastic surfaces. The acrylics often build up a large charge of static electricity, which in households with pets can produce strangely hairy furniture. The static electricity also attracts dust to the plastic surfaces, adding to the housewife's cleaning problem. Some of the chemical compounds have another problem: in Chicago, a furniture buyer brought home a clear plastic coffee table, which he set down next to a fireplace. "Next," recalls his boss, "he lit a roaring fire and the damn thing melted."
Honest Pieces. The impact of plastic on furniture manufacturers has already been considerable. Says A. Stuart Wood, an editor at Modern Plastics: "The use of plastic as plastic is changing the furniture business like the textile business was changed 30 years ago by the introduction of synthetic fabrics." As far as Chicago Department Store Executive Marcia Coontz is concerned, that change is all for the best. "I like everything to be honest," she says. "I don't like the plastic that's designed as wood. This new furniture is very honestly plastic —and that's why I like it. And that's funny, because just a few years ago everyone thought plastic was, well, ycccccccch."